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2 God and Obstinate Israel

Rom 10:21, But concerning Israel, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” 3

Rom 11:1-2a, I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. 4

First, Paul is a Jew. He had fought against God by persecuting Christians yet God didn’t reject him, instead God showed mercy on him until he became a believer. This proves that God has not rejected the Jews because Paul is a Jew. 5

V2b-4, Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 6

7 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Second, when Israel was at her worse, when everyone was worshiping Baal and idols, when Elijah thought that he was the only worshiper left, there were 7,000 worshipers – a remnant - who won’t bow to Baal. 8

V5-6, So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. 9

Rom 9:27-28, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved (return Isa 10:22) For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.” 10

Since God does not give up on the Jews, Paul reaches out to the Jews with the gospel. Since Paul reaches out to the Jews, we should also reach out to the Jewish friends with the gospel. 11

The remnant in Elijah’s time means not every descendent of Abraham in the state of Israel is a true Jew, only a remnant, 7001 are true Jews, the rest are idol (Baal) worshipers. 12

Today the remnant means that not everyone in our nation is Christian. Many people assume that this is a Christian nation but the truth is only a remnant in the US is saved by grace, the rest are idol worshipers, self worshipers, and greedy money worshipers. 13

V7, What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened. 14

This means that man is responsible for his unbelief. 15

V8-10, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” 9 And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 16

10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” 17

We have the responsibility to share the gospel to everyone because we don’t know who the elects are. 18

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